"That's not Mathieu's fault, that's more the fault of the rest" - CX legend comments on lack of tension when world champion takes to the field

There's little doubt about who the best cyclocross rider on the planet is in 2024. Mathieu van der Poel stands head and shoulders above the rest of the field, it's difficult to even call them rivals. The thing is though, this is by no means a new phenomenon.

"The most important reason is simply that he has always been the best," explains cyclocross legend Richard Groenendaal in conversation with Wielerflits. "When he was a rookie, he was already by far the best, and he still is now. In the meantime, he has only become stronger, also because of his way of making annual plans."

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"On the road he has ridden a minimal program, in order to stay very fit and train. He now also comes into those competitions fresh and well trained. On a course where that is very important, the difference in Zonhoven suddenly becomes very big," Groenendaal continues. "While Mathieu is brimming with fitness and has been able to train super well in Spain the past few weeks. You can't see those factors separately, and the rest know that too."

The dominance of Van der Poel has also had a big effect on the rest of the field, as they immediately seem resigned to battle for 2nd as soon as Dutch superstar launches one of his attacks. "Adrie van der Poel sometimes says: the rest are not riding enough on the road and that is why they are falling short. But they simply cannot ride on the road, or at least not in the way that Mathieu rides there," Groenendaal says. "If Mathieu had to ride cross from October to February, he couldn't do that either. They are different riders and Mathieu is simply the best. But that is very nice to see."

"For us - and by that I mean: all the other teams and riders - there's not much to it," he concludes, noting the lack of tension in Van der Poel races. "In the material post you could just see everyone shrugging their shoulders and thinking: that's it. But to be clear: that's not Mathieu's fault, that's more the fault of the rest."

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